Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has a 63 - 25 percent job approval rating and swamps the two leading
potential Republican candidates against him in 2010, John Kasich and Mike DeWine by 30
percent and 22 percent respectively, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Ohio voters support the overall education plan Gov. Strickland laid out in his State of the
State address, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Voters
support 51 - 42 percent increasing the school year from 180 days to 200 days. But they oppose
56 - 36 percent lengthening the school day.

And by a 69 - 22 percent margin, Ohioans think that despite the Governor's pledge not to
raise taxes statewide, nor to force localities to do so, that they will wind up paying more taxes.

"Gov. Ted Strickland has a selling job to do on the graduation test, because voters indicate
they like the current graduation requirements or want a tougher standard," said Peter A. Brown,
assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "And despite the Governor's
promises, they don't believe that all these changes aren't going to hit them in the pocketbook."

Among the Republicans vying for the nomination to oppose Strickland in 2010, former
U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, who is by far better known than Kasich, holds a 37 - 22 percent lead
over the former congressman and Fox TV news host Kasich. A third potential candidate, State
Sen. Kevin Coughlin gets only 3 percent in a GOP primary and is virtually unknown statewide.

"Anything is possible in politics, but Gov. Strickland is in an extremely strong position for
re-election 21 months before the 2010 election," said Brown. "He leads among independents by a
three-to-one margin against Kasich and two-to-one against DeWine."

"In politics, nothing is as valuable to a politician as a good first impression and two years
into his term, it's pretty clear than Ted Strickland has made a very good first impression on the
people of Ohio. Of course we have 21 months until Election Day, but only about one in six voters
or fewer say they are undecided. Strickland could lose them all and still win comfortably."

The clout that Strickland carries with the people of Ohio is best seen through the prism of
his education initiatives. Only 43 percent of voters say they have heard "a lot" or "some" about
the Governor's new plan for educational change, but 42 percent say they think it would improve
education in the state, 22 percent say it would not, and 36 percent do not have an opinion.

Ohio voters support 62 - 34 percent Strickland's proposal to make all-day kindergarten
mandatory statewide. Voters with children in public school support the proposal 75 - 24 percent.

Voters also support 64 - 29 percent requiring teachers to work nine years before they are
eligible for tenure, instead of the current three-year requirement. Even Democrats, who tend to be
pro-teacher, support the nine-year tenure requirement 63 - 30 percent.

From January 29 - February 2, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,127 Ohio voters, with a
margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points. The survey includes 374 Republicans, with a margin
of error of +/-5.1 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Ohio and the
nation as a public service and for research.

1. (If registered Republican) As you may know there will be an election for Governor
in Ohio in 2010. Thinking about the Republican primary for Governor, if the 2010
Republican primary for governor were being held today and the candidates were
John Kasich, Mike DeWine and Kevin Coughlin, for whom would you vote?

Rep
Kasich 22%
DeWine 37
Coughlin 3
DK/NA 37

4. If the 2010 election for governor were being held today and the candidates
were Ted Strickland the Democrat and John Kasich the Republican, for whom would
you vote?

TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Ohio
today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or
very dissatisfied? (*also low of 33% on 12/11/08)

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ted Strickland is handling the
state budget?

Feb 5 Dec 11
2009 2008
Approve 48 41
Disapprove 30 31
DK/NA 21 29

42. To balance the state budget next year, if you had to choose, which would
you prefer - raising taxes to keep state services at their current level or
cutting state services to keep taxes at their current level?

TREND: To balance the state budget next year, if you had to choose, which would
you prefer - raising taxes to keep state services at their current level or
cutting state services to keep taxes at their current level?

43. Governor Strickland has ruled out raising state taxes to alleviate Ohio's
budget situation. Do you agree with him that taxes should not be raised, or
do you think that some tax increase should be considered?

TREND: Governor Strickland has ruled out raising state taxes to alleviate
Ohio's budget situation. Do you agree with him that taxes should not be raised,
or do you think that some tax increase should be considered?

45. Governor Strickland has offered a new education plan for Ohio that would
affect how schools are funded, how students are taught and how teachers are
trained. How much have you heard or read about Strickland's new education plan?
A lot, some, not much, or nothing at all?

47. Governor Strickland has said that he will raise the amount of money that
the state gives local school districts, but he will not raise state taxes to pay
for it. Local districts would be allowed to raise taxes, but they would not have
to. If the Governor's plan goes into effect, Do you think you will pay more
taxes to support education than you are paying now or not?

49. Governor Strickland wants to increase the school year in Ohio from its
current 180 days to 200 days. The increase would take effect over a 10-year
period. Do you support or oppose increasing the school year to 200 days?

53. Currently, students must pass the same statewide exam, the Ohio Graduation
Test, to graduate from high school. Do you think that Ohio should require all
students to pass the same statewide test to graduate or don't you think so?

54. Generally Ohio public school teachers are eligible for tenure after three
years of teaching. Governor Strickland wants to require nine years of teaching
to be eligible for tenure. Do you support or oppose requiring nine years of
teaching for Ohio public school teachers to be eligible for tenure?